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Pallavi had to research and work out different ways to deal with her son’s day-to-day issues
5. Make him/her sit in your lap and guard the eyes:
To make the child feel comfortable, make him sit in your lap while the hairdresser chops off his unruly locks (they usually are so because hurried haircuts done by mom at home are far from neat). Put your arms around him and hold his head tight to make the job easier – this way you can also guard his face and eyes if he moves or jumps without any warning. And carry a fresh pair of clothes for him to change into after the haircut is completed because prickly bits of hair can aggravate your child’s sensory problems. July 2017
6. End the haircut with a reward: Once it’s all done, pat
your kiddo’s back and gift him his favourite food – ice cream, chocolate, burger, a toy, or even a visit to a particular shop or park – anything he is really fond of. Say you are proud that he was patient – a “well done” compliment along with a hug and kiss goes a long way in assuring the child that he will be appreciated in both tangible and non-tangible ways if he cooperates now and in the future. All the best! Read more about Pallavi and Aariv’s journey on her blog autismadapted. wordpress.com.